Information and inspiration for the woman who trains to fight

Losses

In amateur boxing, what matters most is gaining round experiences. Your win and loss record doesn’t matter. The only time winning or losing really matters is at tournaments and other qualifying venues.

But, tell that to the person experiencing the loss. Losses are hard on the soul. They make you question your efficacy, your worth, your skill and abilities. Losses make you feel exposed to the world. The world doesn’t know how to talk to you about them. Making matters more difficult, people are ready and willing to approach you after a win.

You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was a one hundred percent effort that you gave – win or lose. – Gordie Howe

The truest lesson from boxing training and matches is knowing how to develop mental strength. This to me is crucial for all of my boxers. They learn where their mental strengths and where their mental openings are through each win and loss - through every day they train. They experience what it takes to endure discomfort and stay in a learning state. Boxers learn how to use experiences in daily life to train for the ring and how to use boxing to train for life. Boxers acquire a holistic state of being and are able to respond with more confidence, discipline and exactness because of their ability to experience wins and losses equally well.